Engine-starting apparatus



March 23 1926.

G W ELSEY ENGINE STARTING APPARATUS Filed May 1, 1924 wkn ,7.

Patented maze. 1926.-

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

'i GEORGE W. ELSEY, OE ANDERSON, INDIANA, ASSIGNOB TO GENERAL MOTORS COR POBATION, A' CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

ENGINE-STARTING APPARATUS.

Application filed Kay 1,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnonen W. ELSEY, a

citizen of the United States of America, re-

- siding at Anderson, county of Madison, and

' Ii State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Engine-Starting Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to starting apparatus for internal combustion engines, par-.

ticularly, to a type of apparatus including an electric motor operating a gear which is movable axially into engagement with av gear connected with-the engine, such as the engine flywheel gear.

Among the objects of the invention are the connecting of themotor gear withv the engine gear and the. operating the motor by manual operation; for example, by means of astarting lever, and the demeshing of the motor ear from the engine gear automatically w on the engine starts, regardless I of, whether the starting lever is still maintained in engine-startin position.

In order to accomplisthese objects the invention provides means responsive to the operation of the starting motor for disconnectin the starting motor pedal from a de vice w ich engages the motor gear to shift '30' it axially into engagement with the flywheel gear. The motor gearis connected with the motor shaft by a spiral spline or. screw thread, Consequently, when the engine becomes self-operative, the motor gear will be an automatically demeshed from the engine gear, altho the starting motor 'pedal may not yet be released by the operator. I

Further objects and advantages of. the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompan in v drawings, wherein a referred form 0 cm o'diment of the present mvention is clearly shown.

' In the drawings: I

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side view partly in section, of a startin motor and gearing, includin a form oft e invention, the apparatus eing in normal .or inoperative condition.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fi the apparatus in condition the engine.

Referring 1, showing or cranking to the drawings: 20 designates a goal-housing including a bracket 21 for.

1924. Serial No. 110,470.

The housing 20 supports a motor field frame 23. By means of a bearing (not shown), the frame supports the motor shaft 24 having one end journalled at 25 in the gear housing 20. The shaft 24 is provided with a spirallysphned or threaded portion 26, which engages an internally-threaded motor" gear 27 carrying a flanged washer 28 projectlng be- 0 yond the periphery of the gear. i

The motion-transmitting device for shiftmg gear 27 endwise into engagement with the gear 22 includes a bifurcated lever 29, pivoted upon a shaft 30 carried by housing 7 20, the blfurcations of lever 29 being connected by a yoke 31 and the ends thereof being rounded at 32 to engage a grooved collar 33. Between collar 33 and the end 34 of the armature core there is located a spacer 35. A spring 36, coiled around the shaft 30 [has one end 37 bearing against the gear housing 20, and the other end 38 bearing against the yoke 31. Between the grooved collar 33 and the ear 27 there is located a spring 40 man imtial state of compression by means of spring housing members 41 and '42, which limit the separation of members 33 and 27 Housing member 41 'is attached as shown in Fig. 1 to the collar 33 and is provided with a flange 43 connected with aflange 45 of the member 42 by lugs 44.. integral with flange 45 and bent around flange 43. Member 42 is provided with an opening 46, which is large enough to clear the motor gear 27 but is smaller in' diameter than the external diameterof the washer 28.

The manually operable means for movmg the motion-transmitting device, includes a lever 50 pivoted upon the shaft 30 and 05 carrying an adjustable screw 51 adapted to engage the plunger 52 of a motor-operating 'switc-h enclosed within a housing 53. One

cated in convenient reach of t e driver.

The means for ,connecting the lever 50 w1th a gear shifting lever 29, includes a awl 60 pivoted upon a stud 61 carried by Fever .50. The pawl engages a notch 62 iirthe lever 29 and is normally held in this position by means of a spring 63 coiled around the stud 61 and having one end 64 hearing against an car 65 of the pawl 60, said ear being at right angles to the main portion of the pawl 60. The other end 66 of 63v bears against a stud 67 on lever 50.

The notor field frame 23 supports a bracket 7:) providing a uide for-a slidable rod 71 having a head 2. The rod 71 is threaded at 7 3 to receive nut 74. A sip-ring 75 is located between the head 72 and bracket 70. By means of the nut 74 the initial compression in the spring 75 is adjusted for apurpose to be described later.

A collar 90 is attached to the motor shaft 24 and a thrust washer 91 is located between the collar 90 and a plane surface 92 formed on the housing 20.

The manner of operating the invention is as follows:

When the engine is at rest the starting ap aratus is normally in the position shown 1n Fig. 1. To start the engine a pedal 56 is depressed causing the lever 50 to move into the position shown in Fig. 2 to efl'eet the movement of the lever 29 and the closmg of the motor switch by depress ng the plunger 52 to the position shown in Flg. 2. In case the teeth of the gear 27 register with the tooth spaces .of the gear 22, the engagement of these gears will take place before the motor switch is closed. Butin case of tooth abutment the spring 40 willbe compressed beyond its initial state of compression, thus permitting the motor switch to be closed. The motor will then turn to register the gear 27 for enmeshment with the gear 22, and slight rotation of gear 27 will release the spring 40 {which Wlll quickly jump the gear27 into engagement with the gear 22. After the gear 27 has been moved endwise along theshaft until it engages the collar 90, the gear 27 w1ll turn with the shaft 24 to operate the engine gear 22. This engine-cranking position of gear 27 is shown in Flg. 2. f

During the movement of lever 50 into the position shown in Fig. 2, from the'pos1 tion shown in Fig. 1, the ear of awl 60 engages the head 72 of plunger 71. ther movement of the lever 50 into motorswitch-closing position causes the spring 75 to tend to push the pawl 60 out of engagement with the notch 62. Before the motor switch is closed,- thls dlsengagement of the pawl 60 from the lever 29 Wlll not occur because the engaging surfaces of members 60 and 29 are so located with respect to their pivots that the friction between members 60 and 29 will prevent disengagement of members 60 and 29 by the spring 5, as long as the lever 50 is transmitting movement to the lever 29. When, after the gear 27 is meshed with the gear 22 by virtue of pedal operation, the motor b egins to move the gear 27 toward the stop 90 by virtue of action ofthe spiral splines 26, the pressurebetween the end of the pawl 60 and the notch 62 of lever 29 .will be relieved.

The spring operating through the rod 71 will then cause the pawl 60 to be disengaged from the notch 62, as shown in Fig. 2. As the motor gear 27 is then released from the starting pedal 56, the engine on becoming self-operative will automatically demesh themotor gear 27 from the engine gear 22, nd cause the collar 33 and the lever 29 to return to the positions indicated indash lines in Fig. 2. Therefore, it is apparent that the motor gear 27 will be automatically demeshed, regardless of whether the operating lever 50 is held down after the engine becomes self-operative.

The demeshing of the gear 27 is assisted by spring 36 which maintains the gear shifting mechanism in position shown in Fig. 1. The spacer 35 limitsthe endwise movement of the collar 33 to the left as viewed in Fig. 1.

To stop the motor, the operator releases the pedal 56. A spring 56 located between the pedal and the stationary part such as the floor boa-rd 56 of the vehicle causes the lever 50 to return to the position shown in Fig. 1. A slight clearance between the pawl 60 and lever 29 is provided in the 'normal at rest position of'the apparatus, so that the pawl 60 will then enter the notch 62. It is apparent, therefore, that the starting apparatus will not be damaged by failureto release the pedal 56 as soon as the engine starts. Automatic demeshment' of gear 27 will take place regardless of the status of the starting pedal 56. Therefore, the present invention avoids the use of an overrunning clutch connecting the motor armature with starting gears in order to protect the armature against excessive rotation when the engine starts.

lVhile the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What I claim is as follows:

1. Engine starting apparatus comprising.- I

gear when the engine starts.

2. Engine starting apparatus comprising in combination, an engine having a gear; a

.motor and gear driven thereby; a motiontransmitting member for meshing the motor gear with the engine gear; a manually operable member for actuating the motion-transmitting member; meansincluding a spring released for operationwhen the motor starts for automatically disconnecting said members; and automatic means for demeshing the motor gear ivhen the engine starts.

. gine starts.

I motor and gear driven thereby;- a mot-ionv transmitting lever for meshing the motor I 3." Engine starting apparatus comprising in combination, an engine having a' gear; a motor and gear driven thereby; a motiontransmitting lever for meshing the motor gear withthe engine gear; a manually operable lever for actuating the first lever;

means normally connecting said levers; a device released for operation when the motor starts for moving the connecting means to disconnect said levers; and automatic means for demeshing themotor gear when the en- 4. Englne starting apparatus comprising of actuation by said manual means, into full engagement with the engine gear; and

means, released by the relieving of the operating pressure delivered to the motor gear by the manual means when the motor starts, for automatically disconnecting the manual means from the gear, whereby the motor gear will be automatically demeshed from the engine gear when the engine becomes self-operative, regardless of manipulation of the manual means. v "7. Engine starting apparatus comprising, 111 combination, an engine havinga gear; a

motor and gear driven thereby a motionin combination, an-eng1ne having a gear; a

gear with the engine gear; a, manually operable lever foractuating the first lever; a

pawl pivoted on the second lever and normally engaging the first lever; a sprlng located in the path of movement of the pawl and released whenthe motor starts for movgear ing the pawl out of engagement with the motion-transmitting lever; and automatic means for demeshing the motor gear when the enginestarts.

'5. Engine starting apparatus comprising in combination, an engine having a gear; a motor and. shaft driven thereby; a motor gear spirally splined to, said shaft; manually operable means for entering the motor into mesh causing the motor to operate the motor gear with the engine gear and for transmitting member for-meshing the motor gear-with the engine gear; a manually oper able member for actuating the motion-trans. mitting member; means responsive to operationof the motor for completely meshing the motorgear with the engine gear, and responsive to the self operation of the engine for demeshing the motor gear from the en 1 gine gear and means for disconnecting said -members in response to movement of themotor gear into mesh with the engine gear due to operation of the motor.

whereby the motor W111 actuate the motor in combination, an engine having a' gear; a

'- motor andmoved: 'b

haft driven thereby; a motor. 'gear;',manual means for entering the motor gear into mesh with the engine ear'and for causing the motor to, operate t e shaft; means connecting the shaft, and motor gear and adaptedtocausethe motor gear to be gator operation, independently 8. Engine-starting apparatus comprising, in combination, an engine having a gear; a motor and gear driven thereby; a motiontransmitting member for meshing the motor gear with the engine gear; a manually operable member for actuating the motion-trans mitting member; a connector for said members normally located so as to connect the members; a spring operated part for engaging the connector and tending to movethe' I connector out of engagement with one o'ffthe-Q I members but restrained from so doing 1 reason of the transmission of force from member to the other through said connector; means responsive to the operation of the motor for relieving the force transmitted by the connector whereby the spring is released one to cause the cdnn'ector to be disconnected from one of the members; and automatic 9. En ne starting apparatus comprising, in comblnatiom-an engine having a gear; a motor and gear driven thereby; a motion- -means fordemeshing the motor gear when the engine starts. a

transmittin member for meshing the motor gear with t e engine gear; a manually oper-' able member for actuating the motion-transmittin member; means responsive to operation, '0 the motor for completely meshing the motor gear with the engine gear, and res'ponsive tothe self operation of the engine for demeshing'th'e motor gear from the engine gear; a connectorifor said members normally located so as to connect the members; a spring 0 erated part for engaging the connector an tendingto move the connector out of. engagement'with one of the members butrestramed from so doing, by reason of the transmission of force; from one member to the other through said connector; and means responsive to movement of the motor gear into mesh with the engine gear due to operation of the motor for relieving the force transmitted by the connector whereby the spring is released to cause the connector to be disconnected from one of said members.

10. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, an engine having a gear; a motor; a spirally. splined shaft driven thereby; a motor gear mounted upon the'shaft and havinga bore provided with spiral grooves receiving the shaft splines; a shifting collar connected with the motor gear; a pivoted shafting lever cooperating with the collar; a pedal operated lever pivotally coaxially with the shifting lever; a pawl connected with theQpedal lever and normally engaging a part of the shifting lever and a spring pressed member located in the path of movement of the pawl as the levers are operated for urging the pawl out of engagement with the shifting lever, the pawl and shifting lever part having c0- operating engaging surfaces so shaped that engagement of the pawl and shifting lever is maintained until the operation of the motor causes the motor gear to be moved into complete engagement with the engine gear.

In testimony whereof I hereto aitix my signature.

GEORGE Vt. JLSEY 

